Flail assembly

ABSTRACT

A flail assembly for use with shredding machines, comprising a clevis member engaging the mounting bar of the machine, an endless chain link suspended from said clevis member, and at least one knife blade supported dependingly from said chain link. Said clevis incorporates legs having hook portions at their free ends; with the transverse distance between said hook portions being substantially equivalent to the cross section of the stock forming said link, which latter is provided with a crosssectionally reduced portion to allow for facile assembly and disassembly of the clevis with respect to the said link.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert C. Ruel'l St. Louis County, Mo. [21 1 Appl. No. 847,200 [22] Filed Aug. 4, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Nlxdorfl-Kreln Mtg. Co.

St. Louis, Mo.

[54] FLAIL ASSEMBLY 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

s2 U.S.Cl 146/117 R, 56/294 [51] lnt.C1 ..A0ld 55/22 [50] Field olSearch..... 241/193, 194, 195; 56/294; 146/1 17; 59/86, 93-, 146/1 17 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,044,521 7/1962 Pierre 59/93 UX 3,177,640 4/1965 Mott 56/294 3,400,527 9/1968 Woodring 56/294 3,423,920 1/1969 Woodring et al. 56/294 3,505,800 4/1970 McCanse 56/294 3,527,038 9/1970 Wood et a1. 56/294 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,144,61 1 3/1969 Great Britain 56/294 Primary Examiner-Granvil1e Y/Custer, Jr. Allorney- Ralph W. Kalish ABSTRACT: A flail assembly for use with shredding machines, comprising a clevis member engaging the mounting bar of the machine, an endless chain link suspended from said clevis member, and at least one knife blade supported dependingly from said chain link. Said clevis incorporates legs having hook portions at their free ends; with the transverse distance between said hook portions being substantially equivalent to the cross section of the stock forming said link, which latter is provided with a cross-sectionally reduced portion to allow for facile assembly and disassembly of the clevis with respect to the said link.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 2 Sheots-Sheet l FIG.4

INVENTOR ROBERT Q. RUEFF BY Qm xwl ATTORNEY 11 Dec. 14, 1971 3,627,010

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7

FIGS FIG.9

INVENTOR ROBERT C. RUEFF ATTORNEY run. xsslsmntv BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to agricultural equipment and, more particularly, to a flair assembly for use with shredding machines.

I-Ieretofore there has existed a serious problem with respect to maintaining flair knives in appropriate operative position during usage. Such knives, whether of cut or side slicing type, must be suspended for free swingability and such suspending means have been customarily a D-ring, wherein the same is formed from rod stock and with the ends being spaced apart. Such rings are normally supported within straplike members which are supplied with separate retainer portions so as to restrict the vertical shiftability of such rings. In practice, it has been found that open rings tend to shift laterally with ultimate disengagement, as by slipping, from the particular support member and that, furthermore, through reasonably hard usage, such rings tend to spread causing undesired displacement. Additionally an assemblage of this type is relatively costly in parts as well as production, since the same incorporates a relative multiplicity of components which must be particularly and carefully related.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flair assembly incorporating an endless link for freely supporting the particular knife, whether the same be of the side slicing or the cut type, and which link, by reason ofits continuous character will promote long, reliable operation being proof against end-parting with its attendant knife displacement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flail assembly of the type stated which incorporates a clevis for supporting the same on the mounting bar of the shredder and which clevis is so dimensionally related to the associated link as to permit stable interengagement between the same without the intervention ofany extrinsic components.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a flail assembly of the character stated wherein the dimensional relationships between the components is such as to deny disengagement of the clevis member and the link without the exercise of a prescribed manipulation, thereby conducing to stability during operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flail assembly of the type described which embodies side slicing knives having continuous cutting edges throughout the full extent of the opposed side edges thereof, so as to provide maximum severing capability.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flail assembly of the type stated which may be most economically manufactured, being adapted for high-volume, low-cost production; which may be utilized with existing shredding machines without requiring costly modification; components of which are so related that any portion thereof may be replaced without necessitating replacement of all components; and which assembly is durable and reliable in usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a flail assembly, constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the present invention, illustrating same in operative position.

FIG. 2 is a front view.

FIG. 3 is a side view.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating the components of the assembly at one stage of the interengagement of the components.

FIG. 5 is an end view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another form of flail assembly constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view ofthe clevis.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the clevis.

2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRACTICAL EMBODIMENTS Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A generally designates a flail assembly incorporating a pair of reversible, side slicing knives I, I, suspended for swingable movement from an endless link 2, which latter is supported by a clevis 3 engaged to a mounting bar 6 of the type customarily engaged to the precision balanced cylinder of a conventional flail shredder machine (not shown).

Knives I, I are of identical construction, cast from suitable metal and being of generally flat, rectangular form, having normal upper and lower end edges 5, 6 and side edges 6, 7; each of said knives I, I, in their lower portions, are lengthwise arcuated to thus create an upper, planar portion 8 and a lower curvate portion 9, in accordance with generally accepted flail knife contour. Formed in each knife I, I, proximate its upper margin 5 is an aperture 10 for extension therethrough of link 2; said knives I, I being so related as to be in back-to-back relationship, whereby the curvate, lower portions 9 will be directed away from each other and with the planar portions II normally abutting; surfacewise (FIG. 2). Each knife I, I, throughout the extent of its side margins 6, 7 and lower margin 5' is bevelled to form a continuous cutting edge II for maximum operational usage.

Link 2 is of endless character, having parallel, relatively lengthy, side runs I2, I22 connected at their ends by bight portions I3, I3 for defining an elongate opening M of predetermined transverse and longitudinal extent. Said link 2 is formed of suitable rod stock being preferably circular in cross section and having a diameter or cross section less than the diameter of openings III of knives I, I, whereby the latter are freely swingable and rockable about the received portion of link 2. As may best be seen in the drawings, knives I, I will normally depend from bight portion 113.

For reasons to be discussed hereinbelow, one side run I2, or l2, as the case may be, is provided, on preferably its outwardly directed face, with a flattened zone, as indicated at 15, whereby the cross section of link 2 through said zone is relatively reduced to a predetermined thickness for purposes to be described hereinbelow. It is to be especially observed that link 2 is of endless character so as to form a rigid, unitary member wherein the possibility of end parting during usage, with consequent displacement of the knives, is avoided.

Clevis 3 is of general U-shape configuration having spacedapart legs I6, I6 connected at their lower ends by a bight I7, and in their opposite or upper end portions being turned in like direction for forming hook portions 118, I8 which define eyelets I9, I9, respectively; said hook portions 19, I6 being planarwise parallel and transversely aligned for registration of the respective eyelets I9, I9.

Spacedly from bight I7, legs I6, I6 slightly converge, as at 26, for developing therebetween a throat 2I, which is continuous through the upper end of clevis 3. The width of throat ZI is less than the cross section of link 2 and is determined by the thickness of bar 41 so that the latter will be snugly received between legs I6, I6 with hook portions I6, I6 being presented on opposite sides of said bar 4 for projection through the related eyelets I9, 19 of a retaining bolt 22; said latter projecting through an aligned opening (not shown) in bar 4. It is to be observed that the height of bar 4 and the length of legs I6, I6 ofclevis 3 are so related that a clearance will be established between the underface of bar 4 and bight portion 13 of link 2 which depends from the said bight I7 of clevis 3. Said clearance being indicated at 23 and such allowing ample play of link 2 during the shredding operation. It will be noted that by reason of the engagement of clevis 3 upon bar 4, link 2 is inhibited against undesired displacement during usage and, thus, will, at all times, be maintained for operative presentation of the respective knives I, II. The dimensions of hook portions I8, I6, whether considered along a transverse axis, as indicated by dotted line 26, or along a longitudinal axis as indicated by line 26 in FIG. 2, are greater than the distance between said side runs I2,I2 as well as the distance between upper margins 5 of knives l, l'and the inner face of upper bight 13 of hook link 2 when said knives are in fully suspended position (see FIG. 2), which distance is indicated by dotted line 25. Furthermore the cross section of the stock of clevis 3 is greater than the distance between the inner face of either side run 12, 12 and the proximate knife 1, 1', as the case may be, with such latter being in operative position. Accordingly, in view of such relationships, clevis 3 may not be interengaged with hook link 2 unless knives l, l' are appropriately disposed with respect to the related link 2. With reference now being made to FIGS. 4 and 5, the components of flail assembly A are illustrated in the requisite relationship for eflecting interengagement of link 2 and clevis 3. With clevis 3 fully detached, as indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 4, knife 1' is swung away from knife 1, through an arc of l80; by such disposition the transverse distance within link opening 14 between either run l2, l2 and the normal upper portions of now oppositely extending knives l, 1', within such opening 14, is greater than the cross section of the stock forming hooks 18, 18 and, furthermore, the distance between inner faces of bight l3 and 13', as determined adjacent corresponding faces of knives 1, l, is of increased extent relative to the various dimensions of hooks 18, 18, such as indicated along axes 24, 24. Accordingly, clevis 3 may be presented to the particular run 12 or 12', so as to effect movement through opening 14 of one leg 16 together with the related hook 18, so as to relatively present the included run within bight 17 (as indicated in full lines in FIG. 4). With clevis 3 thus engaged, same is then rotated substantially through an arc of 90 and then moved cireumferentially of link 2 for disposition of bight 13 thereof within bight 17 while simultaneously permitting knife 1' to be returned, as through gravity, into depending disposition adjacent knife 1. It should be observed that the aforesaid procedure for interengaging clevis 3 and link 2 is accomplished, in part, by reason of the lateral shifting of knives l, 1' along the respective bights 13, 13' to effect development of maximum clearance between the same and the more remote run 12; and also, in part, by the provision of the flattened zone which permits facile, relative movement of the adjacent run 12 into and through throat 21. Thus, with the components of assembly A in operative relationship, prior to mounting upon bar 4, the same may not be inadvertently or accidentally disassembled, since only by the aforesaid swinging of knives l, l for extension in opposite directions from opposite ends of link 2 may clevis 3 be removed after requisite manipulation. Accordingly, by such novel interrelationship, assembly A is stable in operation, bringing about reliability hitherto unachieved by current, known constructions.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another form of flail assembly, indicated A, is disclosed, which comprises a knife 31 of the cup type, suspended from an endless link 32 of the generally twisted, or figure-eight, character, and a clevis 33.

Said knife 31 is cast, as of flat plate character, having an upper planar portion 34, and a lower, outwardly turned, arcuate end portion 35, the end of which is bevelled or sharpened to form a knife edge 36. Link 32, as stated, incorporates runs 37, 38, which at their opposite ends are connected by upper and lower semicircular bight portions 39, 39', respectively; said latter being provided with a twist so that the same are positioned at substantially right angles with respect to each other, thereby causing runs 37, 38 to cross each other in spaced relationship. The twisted character of link 32 is requisite in the present assembly in order that cup knife 35 is presented, in initial attitude, with its knife edge 36 perpendicular to its path of travel across the ground area as distinct from knives l, l of assembly A hereinabove described, wherein the same, in initial or starting position, are disposed for side slicing whereby the lower free edges 5' thereof are parallel to the path of travel. Provided on at least one of said runs 37, 38, is a flattened zone, as at 40, for reducing the cross section of said link 32 therethrough. Clevis 33 is substantially of like configuration and character as clevis 3, hereinabove described. and thus having legs 4], 4i, bight 42, hooks 43,

43 and with an intervening throat 44 which correspond structurally and functionally to the like components of clevis 3 above described. Thus, clevis 33 is dimensionally related to link 32 so that in order to effect interengagement the hook portions 43, 43 must be moved relatively past flattened zone 40, after which said clevis 33 may be turned through an angle of substantially and directed along run 38 into engagement between its bight 42 and upper semicircular portion 39 of link 32. By reference to FIG. 7 it will be seen that bight 42 of clevis 33 and lower semicircular portion 39 of link 32 are substantially coplanar when assembly A is in operative position. Cup knife 31 is freely suspended from link 32 by means of an aperture 44 of relatively increased diameter with respect to the cross section of semicircular portion 39 of link 32. Thus, by reason of the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention is equally useful with cup-type knives as with side slicing knives. 7

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a further form of clevis indicated generally 45, which is, in all respects, similar to clevises 3 and 33, above described, with the exception that at the upper end of the legs 46 thereof, the hooks 47 developed are of relatively annular formation presenting a circular eye 48 and with the end of said hook 47 being brought into immediate adjacency with the confronting portion of leg 46, as indicated at 49. It has been found that annular hook portions 47 enhance the wearability of clevises of the present invention and permit of relatively increased swingability about the axes created by the particular retaining bolt to thereby give a further range of operation of related knife.

With respect to links 2 and 32, it is to be especially noted that in both a single flattened zone, as at 15 and 40, respectively, have been shown. The same are merely illustrative and may, if desired, be located on opposite surfaces of the same run or on both surfaces. The criterion is to provide suflicient tolerance to permit of relative ease of assembly, but yet to avoid, what might be considered, an overly, sloppy fit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and hope to obtain by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with a shredding machine having a mounting bar, a flail assembly comprising: a clevis member having a pair of legs and an intervening bight; said legs being spaced apart for disposition on either side of said mounting bar with said bight presented downwardly of said bar; means for engaging said clevis on said mounting bar; at least one flail knife; at lease one endless connector link having side runs and opposed bight portions, one said connector link being normally suspended from said clevis, said flail knife being normally suspended from one bight portion of said connector link, hook portions formed on the end of each clevis leg remote from said clevis bight portion, said hook portions being aligned and having transverse and longitudinal dimensions; the distance between the inner end margin of said flail knife and the bight portion of said connector link opposite the one from which said flail knife is suspended being less than both the longitudinal and the transverse dimensions of said hook portions, the distance between the side runs of the connector link being less than the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the clevis hook portions, and the distance between said flail knife and the adjacent side run of said connector link being less than the cross section of said clevis legs when said flail knife is in its normal suspended position.

2. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said flail knife having upper, lower, and side margins, said lower and said side margins being beveled throughout their extent to provide a continuous cutting edge.

3. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a second flail knife being suspended from said endless connector link, said flail knives being of the side slicing type presented in paired, normally back-to-back relationship.

4. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said endless connector link being formed of stock having a cross section slightly greater than the distance between the legs of said clevis; said endless connector link having a flattened portion on one side run for relatively reducing the cross section thereof to permit relative movement of same between said clevis legs for effecting interengagement therewith.

5. For use with a shredding machine, flail assembly as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by each said flail knife having upper, lower and side margins, said lower end and said side margins being beveled throughout their extent to provide a continuous cutting edge, the respective beveled cutting edges being provided on the outer face portions of said knives in mutually converging relationship.

6. For use with a shredding machine having a mounting bar, a flail assembly comprising: a clevis member having a pair of legs and an intervening bight; said legs being spaced apart for disposition on either side of said mounting bar with said bight presented downwardly of said bar; means for engaging said clevis on said mounting bar; a pair of flail knives; at least one endless connector link having side runs and opposed bight portions, one said connector link being normally suspended from said clevis, said flail knives being normally suspended from one bight portion of said connector link, in back-to-back relationship, hook portions formed on the end of each clevis leg remote from said clevis bight portion, said hook portions being aligned and having transverse and longitudinal dimensions; the distance between the inner end margin of said flail knives and the bight portion of said connector link opposite the one from which said flail knives are suspended being less than both the longitudinal and the transverse dimensions of said hook portions, the distance between the side runs of the connector link being less than the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the clevis hook portions, and the distance between said flail knives and the adjacent side run of said connector link being less than the cross section of said clevis legs when said flail knives are in their normal suspended position, the space between said side runs being slightly greater than the combination of the thickness of one flail knife and the cross section of said clevis legs, but less than the combination of the thickness of both flail knives and the cross section of said clevis legs.

7. The invention as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by the combined dimension of thickness of said flail knives when in normally suspended position from said one bight portion of said connector link being such as to cause the distance between same and the proximate side run of said connector link being less than the cross :section of a clevis hook portion whereby the latter may not be entered between said connector link side runs unless one of said flail knives has been previously moved through an arc of approximately to the opposite bight portion.

8. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by saidmeans engaging said connector link and said clevis by suspension of said connector link from said clevis in its bight portion opposite that from which said flail knife is suspended. 

1. For use with a shredding machine having a mounting bar, a flail assembly comprising: a clevis member having a pair of legs and an intervening bight; said legs being spaced apart for disposition on either side of said mounting bar with said bight presented downwardly of said bar; means for engaging said clevis on said mounting bar; at least one flail knife; at least one endless connector link having side runs and opposed bight portions, one said connector link being normally suspended from said clevis, said flail knife being normally suspended from one bight portion of said connector link, hook portions formed on the end of each clevis leg remote from said clevis bight portion, said hook portions being aligned and having transverse and longitudinal dimensions; the distance between the inner end margin of said flail knife and the bight portion of said connector link opposite the one from which said flail knife is suspended being less than both the longitudinal and the transverse dimensions of said hook portions, the distance between the side runs of the connector link being less than the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the clevis hook portions, and the distance between said flail knife and the adjacent side run of said connector link being less than the cross section of said clevis legs when said flail knife is in its normal suspended position.
 2. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said flail knife having upper, lower, and side margins, said lower and said side margins being beveled throughout their extent to provide a continuous cutting edge.
 3. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by a second flail knife being suspended from said endless connector link, said flail knives being of the side slicing type presented in paired, normally back-to-back relationship.
 4. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said endless connector link being formed of stock having a cross section slightly greater than the distance between the legs of said clevis; said endless connector link having a flattened portion on one side run for relatively reducing the cross section thereof to permit relative movement of same between said clevis legs for effecting interengagement therewith.
 5. For use with a shredding machine, flail assembly as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by each said flail knife having upper, lower and side margins, said lower end and said side margins being beveled throughout their extent to provide a continuous cutting edge, the respective beveled cutting edges being provided on the outer face portions of said knives in mutually converging relationship.
 6. For use with a shredding machine having a mounting bar, a flail assembly comprising: a clevis member having a pair of legs and an intervening bight; said legs being spaced apart for disposition on either side of said mounting bar with said bight presented downwardly of said bar; means for engaging said clevis on said mounting bar; a pair of flail knives; at least one endless connector link having side runs and opposed bight portions, one said connector link being normally suspended from said clevis, said flail knives being normally suspended from one bight portion of said connector link, in back-to-back relationship, hook portions formed on the end of each clevis leg remote from said clevis bight portion, said hook portions being aligned and having transverse and longitudinal dimensions; the distance between the inner end margin of said flAil knives and the bight portion of said connector link opposite the one from which said flail knives are suspended being less than both the longitudinal and the transverse dimensions of said hook portions, the distance between the side runs of the connector link being less than the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the clevis hook portions, and the distance between said flail knives and the adjacent side run of said connector link being less than the cross section of said clevis legs when said flail knives are in their normal suspended position, the space between said side runs being slightly greater than the combination of the thickness of one flail knife and the cross section of said clevis legs, but less than the combination of the thickness of both flail knives and the cross section of said clevis legs.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by the combined dimension of thickness of said flail knives when in normally suspended position from said one bight portion of said connector link being such as to cause the distance between same and the proximate side run of said connector link being less than the cross section of a clevis hook portion whereby the latter may not be entered between said connector link side runs unless one of said flail knives has been previously moved through an arc of approximately 180* to the opposite bight portion.
 8. For use with a shredding machine, a flail assembly as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said means engaging said connector link and said clevis by suspension of said connector link from said clevis in its bight portion opposite that from which said flail knife is suspended. 